High Commission of India
Kuala Lumpur

Repatriation of India nationals stranded in Malaysia
under “Vande Bharat Mission”

As part of Vande Bharat Mission, Government of India’s unprecedented effort to repatriate Indians stranded overseas, the first non-scheduled commercial flight from Malaysia carried 177 stranded Indian passengers from Kuala Lumpur to Trichy, Tamil Nadu on 9 May 2020. In the 1^st phase of this Vande Bharat Mission, Indians stranded in 12 countries are being assisted in returning to India. The Air India Express flight (IX 0681) departed from Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 2125 hrs, carrying stranded Indians with compelling reasons to return, including 60 elderly persons, 4 persons with medical emergency; 14 pregnant women; 8 children and 1 infant.

2. The second flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Kochi on 10 May, also carried 177 Indians home and included 11 elderly persons, 6 pregnant women, 3 medical emergency persons, 18 students, 7 children and 2 infants. Air India Express Flight No IX 0683 departed from Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 2040 hrs on 10 May 2020. The Pravasi Malayalee Association, Kuala Lumpur provided medical kits such as face mask, hand sanitizer, hand wash, hand globe, towel and napkins etc. to all passengers travelling to Kochi. The returnees would be required to undergo universal institutional quarantine for 14 days in paid quarantine centres in India.

3. Other flights tentatively scheduled to operate from Kuala Lumpur to various cities in India in the first week include Air India Express Flight (IX 0687) KUL-Chennai on 11 May; Air India Flight (AI 1377) from Kuala Lumpur to Mumbai on 12 May 2020; and Air India Flight (AI 1385) from Kuala Lumpur to Hyderabad on 14 May 2020.

4. High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur appreciates the support of various community organisations in assisting fellow Indians and also requests their continued support in this exercise. Indians stranded in Malaysia are advised to remain patient, as the flights are being planned in a phased manner. We also urge the community to continue maintaining social distance and follow the necessary precautionary measures in containing the spread of COVID-19.

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10 May 2020